Ann Arbor Car Accident Lawyer

Steve Matz and his team have been practicing law in Michigan for decades. They’ve logged hundreds of thousands of miles traveling to virtually every county in Michigan’s lower and upper peninsulas, meeting with clients, and doing the work necessary to earn significant settlements on their clients’ behalf.

When you get a serious injury from a severe auto accident, your life instantly changes and turns upside-down. You’re scared, angry, and frustrated. Your medical bills are increasing and you are likely too injured to work. The insurance company representing the reckless driver that caused the accident is refusing to pay your injury claim, and you just don’t know what to do.

You have rights, and you’re not alone. The law offices of Matz Injury Law have represented many car accident victims just like you over the years. We’re ready to stand up to insurance companies that go out of their way to avoid paying, and we’re ready to protect your rights and fight for the fair compensation you deserve.

Established Car Accident Attorneys Serving Ann Arbor, Michigan

Attorney Steven Matz, the founder of Matz Injury Law, has been practicing law for several decades and fighting for the rights of injury victims since the beginning. Along with his legal partner Jared, Mr. Matz has obtained many settlements in excess of $1 million, and even a $3 million settlement, at the time the largest reported motor vehicle accident settlement in Michigan. He is an experienced attorney who genuinely cares about his clients.

The Ann Arbor car accident attorneys at Matz law office are ready to stand up and fight for your rights. We have fought for many car accident victims over the years and several many judgments and awards. We’ve logged thousands of miles traveling from Detroit to Grand Rapids, Midland to Washtenaw County, Ypsilanti and of course, right here in Ann Arbor, MI, 48104. Call 866-226-6833 or complete the online contact form to get a free consultation with the experienced personal injury lawyers at Matz Injury Law Firm today.

How Frequently Do Car Accidents Occur in Ann Arbor, Michigan?

Car accidents happen every day in Ann Arbor and across Michigan. In fact, in 2019, Michigan had 314,376 collisions in total. 985 of these were fatal, and 74,963 injuries resulted from collisions in this state, according to Michigan Traffic Facts. That’s all just in one year. In addition, Michigan Traffic Crash Facts reports that speeding was a cause of 19.8% of car crashes involving drivers under the age of 21.

Across the nation, speeding is one of the leading causes of car accident cases. In 2020 alone, the National Safety Council says that speeding was at least partially responsible for 29% of fatal auto accidents. Among these accidents in a single year, 11,258 fatalities occurred because of exceeding the speed liming.

Do I Really Need Ann Arbor Car Accident Lawyers?

No law requires you to hire car accident lawyers serving Ann Arbor. It is, however, a very good idea to have personal injury attorneys in your corner when insurance companies come calling. The insurance adjuster is not your friend, and they will try anything to avoid paying your claim. Never sign or agree to anything they offer. The right personal injury attorneys with practice areas in car accident cases can take over communications for you and fight for your rights.

Your lawyer knows personal injury law and knows how to build an iron-clad case to prove that you were the victim and that you deserve fair compensation for your property damage, medical care, lost wages, and other injuries both economic and non-economic. A lawyer can provide legal advice and resources and give you the best shot at winning significant compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.

What Are My Rights in an Accident?

Michigan is a no-fault insurance state where personal injury law involving car accidents is concerned. What this means is that when you have an accident, you don’t report it or file a claim directly with the responsible driver’s insurance company.

Instead, you file your injury claim with your own insurance provider. Your provider then covers the costs you incur while the injury case proceeds, and the other side’s insurance provider will pay your insurance company back.

This is why in Michigan you are required to carry personal injury protection on your policy. It’s designed to protect you against underinsured and uninsured drivers whose insurance may not cover the harm they’ve caused. Under the right circumstances, this sort of law can be a benefit, offering a lot of bang for your buck considering your premiums.

The idea was to simplify claims and help injury victims to get a fast start on getting their medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses covered right away.

The only problem is that the law isn’t perfect and insurance companies, whether yours or someone else’s, don’t like to pay out claims. They are for-profit companies and they do not make money by paying out money.

No-fault insurance coverage also only applies to car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other forms of motor vehicle collisions. It does not count for things like work injuries, medical malpractice, or other types of personal injury cases.

This is where the need for good Ann Arbor car accident lawyers comes into the picture. At Matz Injury Law, we serve residents in Ann Arbor and know how to fight insurance providers that refuse to pay out injury claims. We’ll give you the best chance at fighting for the fair compensation you deserve.

Can You Sue for an Accident in Ann Arbor?

When careless, reckless, or negligent motorists cause an accident in which you get seriously injured, you can sue them for damages. One of the first things people ask is, “how much is my case worth?” It’s impossible to say without talking to you because your case is completely unique from all others. We can, however, tell you a few of the injuries and expenses for which you may be able to get compensation.

There are generally two types of damages in all personal injury lawsuits. These are called economic or special damages and non-economic or general damages. Economic (special) damages are those things that are easy to value. They include such things as: 

• Medical expenses, including doctor’s office visits, medical procedures like surgery and therapy, medications, transportation to and from visits, and other medical costs.
• Lost wages if you are unable to work
• Lost potential future earnings that you may have made if you could still work
• Cost of hiring professional assistance for household care you need
• Property damage and loss of items you cannot replace
• Funeral and burial expenses, in wrongful death cases

General or non-economic damages are sometimes referred to as “pain and suffering.” This can be confusing, however, as this term also refers to a specific type of non-economic damage. These injuries are things that aren’t easy to put a number on. They include, but may not be limited to:

• Physical disfigurement
• Physical impairment
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish including depression, PTSD, and mood swings
• Loss of companionship and comfort
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Injuries like traumatic brain injuries can involve non-economic damages, which is why they are called “invisible injuries.” They leave little by way of physical marks, but can be every bit as devastating, sometimes more. Your Matz Injury Law attorney can help to value these damages, often based on the value of your economic damages.

Yet, even if your injuries are entirely invisible, we can come up with a fair compensatory value, and fight for your rights. Get in touch with us at 866-226-6833 or through our contact form for a free consultation to discuss what your case might be worth today.

How Long Do You Have to Sue After a Car Accident in Ann Arbor, Michigan?

Every state has a concept in their personal injury law called a statute of limitations. This means you have a specific window of time during which you have to file your lawsuit. If you file too late, you could lose your right to compensation.

In Michigan, state law sets the statute of limitations at just three years from the date of the crash. When dealing with wrongful death cases in which you have lost a loved one to the negligent actions of another, you have three years from the date of death to file a case.

It is also important, however, to understand that exceptions exist to every rule. Even though you have exceeded the time limit expressed in the statute, this does not necessarily mean you are out of options. You should always take the opportunity to call a dedicated, experienced car accident attorney serving Ann Arbor to discuss your case and see what options are available to you.

How Much Do Ann Arbor Car Accident Lawyers Cost?

It’s a mistake to think you cannot afford attorneys for your Ann Arbor car accident personal injury case. It begins with an initial consultation where we will review your case, insurance policy, and other information. There is no cost for this consultation whatsoever. It is completely free.

After this, if we agree to work together, we’ll fight for your rights every step of the way. If we do not recover fair compensation for you in your case as a settlement or verdict, you will not owe us a dime in fees at all. Even if we do win, our fees are calculated as 22% of your award.

Most law firms charge 33%, a full third of your earnings. That is why our slogan is “22, not 33.” We take 11% less than other injury lawyers because we want more of your money to go towards your recovery.

In the end, however, what’s important is that you can afford an injury attorney. You pay nothing up front, nothing at all if we don’t win, and only a small percentage of the award if we do win.

At What Point Should I Call Ann Arbor, Michigan, Car Accident Lawyers?

Calling personal injury car accident lawyers is one of the first things you should do after you get home. At the scene of the accident, your first concern is to make sure everyone gets medical attention, including you. Call 911 and get first responders on the scene. Next, collect evidence.

Take photos and make notes. File a police report, which can help you remember what happened later. After you get home, call a lawyer before you even talk to your insurance company. This will prepare you for what comes next, and you’ll have someone ready to fight for you.

We Help Ann Arbor Car Accident Victims. Let Us Help You

Steve and Jared at Matz Injury Law are compassionate and caring car accident lawyers with years of experience under their belt and over $300 million in successful settlements and verdicts for their clients.

When you’re hurt in a car accident, don’t go it alone and don’t be bullied by insurance companies just out to make a buck. Instead, call 866-226-6833 or complete the online contact form for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Matz Injury Law.